A group of voluntarily discharged Nigerian soldiers resumed their protest in Abuja on Thursday, demanding the immediate payment of their outstanding entitlements.
The ex-servicemen, who had suspended an earlier protest on Monday, August 4, 2025, said they returned to the streets after the government failed to honour promises made during a meeting with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance. At that meeting, authorities assured the former soldiers that their pending payments would be made by Sunday, August 10, 2025 a deadline that has since passed without action.
Gathering at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory, the protesters accused the government of neglect and broken promises. They carried banners with bold messages, including:
“Enough of the procrastination!!!!!
We, the 1st and 2nd quarter voluntarily discharged soldiers of 2023, who disengaged from the army on Saturday, February 15, 2024, demand immediate payment of our shortfall of gratuity, Security Debarment Allowance (SDA), and our packing allowance.”
One of the demonstrators, who identified herself as Mama G, expressed frustration over the situation.
“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive,” she said.
According to her, the group had hoped the previous agreement would yield results, but with no payments received, they felt compelled to escalate their protest.
This is not the first time retired military personnel have taken to the streets over delayed or denied entitlements. Similar demonstrations have occurred in recent years, highlighting what many veterans see as persistent neglect and unfair treatment by the authorities.
As of the time of this report, neither the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, nor the Military Pension Board had released an official statement regarding the renewed protests.
